Charter Amendments for 2021 Municipal Election

Voters approved 20 proposed City of Dover Charter Amendments at the Nov. 2, 2021 municipal election. Click here for results of each ballot question. These changes are intended mostly to correct typographical or grammatical errors, or address minor housekeeping items that help modernize the City Charter or align it with state law. The proposed amendments are the result of the City of Dover's Ordinance Committee, which was tasked with drafting the language to be placed on the ballot. The proposed changes have also been endorsed by the City Council.

Because the City Charter is Dover's guiding document, and because it belongs to the people of Dover, all changes, including minor corrections and housekeeping, must be approved by Dover's voters. Although the proposed changes that comprise the 20 ballot questions before voters are not substantive, it's still important that voters understand the proposed changes.

Here you'll find more information about all 20 ballot questions, including the full text, which can be viewed below. In addition, in the video above, members of Dover's Ordinance Committee explain the 20 ballot questions.

A voter guide to the ballot questions, which includes a summary of each question and links to the complete text, can be viewed here: 2021 Ballot Questions: A Voter Guide. A printed version of the voter guide is available at various locations, including the Public Library and City Hall.

Informational session held

Dover's Ordinance Committee held a public informational session on the proposed changes to the City Charter, which will appear on the ballot at the Nov. 2 Municipal Election. The session was held in Room 306 at the McConnell Center on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m.

A video of the meeting is available here: https://dovernh.viebit.com/player.php?hash=XvuFoq0ILawk

This session followed previous meetings and public hearings on the proposed changes, which were drafted by the Ordinance Committee at the direction of the City Council. The City's Charter and Code -- the set of ordinances specific to the City of Dover -- are periodically reviewed for accuracy and completeness. In 2017, the City contracted with a firm specializing in developing and publishing municipal code to perform an in-depth review of the Charter, along with the rest of the City's Code, as part of an overall recodification process. The recodification process is designed to make the City's Charter and Code more accessible to the public with improved online availability, searchability, and formatting. The detailed review of the Charter and Code revealed typographical and formatting issues, improvements in readability, and needed updates to reflect current statutes and practices.

In 2020, the City Council accepted revisions to the Code to implement the improvements; however, changes to the Charter must be approved using ballot questions during a municipal election. The City Council mandated the Ordinance Committee to propose ballot questions to address the Charter amendments recommended during the recodification process. The Ordinance Committee previously approved the proposed Charter amendments and ballot questions after holding a series of public meetings in 2020 and 2021 to identify, discuss, and refine proposed charter amendments.

The Ballot Questions

The 2021 municipal election ballot included 20 questions of proposed amendments to the City of Dover Charter, which appear below. All 20 ballot questions passed.

Language to be added to the Charter appears in underline.

Language to be removed from Charter appears in strikethrough.

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

a. Amend § C1-2 to read as follows:

"A. The city shall be divided into six wards as presently constituted. The general laws of the state relative to wards of cities, officers thereof and voters, checklists, elections and jurors shall be applicable to such wards.

B. Ward boundaries shall divide the City of Dover into six wards of as equal population as is practicable. To achieve that goal, starting upon the issuance of the results of the 2010 census, and every 10 years thereafter upon receipt of the federal census results, the City Council shall promptly initiate review of the ward boundaries to determine if redistricting is necessary and the City Council shall enact by ordinance any necessary propose changes to the ward lines pursuant to § C1-3 of the City’s Charter, through a Charter amendment pursuant to RSA Chapter 49-B, in such a way that will as near as is practicable ensure the wards have equal population.”

b. Amend § C1-3 to read as follows:

“If the City Council determines that ward redistricting is necessary upon receipt of the federal census results, then the City Council shall promptly undertake and enact such redistricting of ward boundaries in the form of an ordinance, which shall be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of all elected members of the City Council after a duly advertised public hearing posted in two public places at least seven days in advance of such hearing.

“Ward One begins at the Dover/Rollinsford boundary line at Hall Street; thence following southeasterly along the Dover/Rollinsford boundary to Broadway; thence southwesterly along the center line of Broadway to the intersection with the Boston and Maine Railroad; thence southeasterly along the railroad to Central Avenue; thence southerly along the center line of Central Avenue to Washington Street; thence westerly along the center line of Washington Street to Chestnut Street; thence northerly along the center line of Chestnut Street to the Cochecho River; thence northerly along the center line of the Cochecho River to Spaulding Turnpike; thence following the center line of the Spaulding Turnpike northerly to its intersection with Glenwood Avenue; thence following the center line of Glenwood Avenue in a northeasterly direction to Central Avenue; thence crossing Central Avenue to a block line established by the 2010 Census and following said block line in an easterly direction to the Dover/Rollinsford boundary line; thence following the Dover/Rollinsford boundary line a southeasterly direction to the point of beginning.

Ward Two begins at Broadway and the Rollinsford/Dover boundary; thence following the Dover/Rollinsford boundary in a southeasterly direction to the confluence of the Cochecho/Piscataqua River; thence following the center line of the confluence in a northwesterly direction to a block line established by the 2010 census; thence turning southwesterly to the intersection of Henry Law Avenue and Tennyson Avenue; thence following the center line of Tennyson Avenue in a southwesterly direction to Court Street; thence following the center line of Court Street in a northwesterly direction to Central Avenue; thence following center line of Central Avenue Street in a southwesterly direction to Silver Street; thence following the center line of Silver Street westerly to Elm Street; thence following the center line of Elm Street in a Southerly direction to Fisher Street; thence following the center line of Fisher Street in a easterly direction to Locust Street; thence following the center line of Locust Street southerly to Central Avenue; thence following the center line of Central Avenue westerly to the Spaulding Turnpike; thence following the center line of Spaulding Turnpike in a northwesterly direction to the intersection with the Boston and Maine Railroad; thence northeasterly along the railroad to center line of the Washington Street; thence following the center line of Washington Street in an easterly direction to the Community Trail; thence following the center line of Community Trail northerly to the center line of the Cochecho River; thence following the center line of the Cochecho River in an easterly direction to Chestnut Street; thence following along the center line of Chestnut Street northerly to Washington Street; thence following the center line of Washington Street easterly to Central Avenue; thence following the center line of Central Avenue northerly to the Boston and Maine Railroad line; thence following the Boston and Maine railroad line northeasterly to the intersection of Broadway; thence following the center line of Broadway in a northeasterly direction to the point of beginning.

Ward Three begins at the intersection of Spaulding Turnpike and Central Avenue; thence following the center line of Central Avenue in a northeasterly direction to Locust Street; thence following the center line of Locust Street northerly to Fisher Street; thence following the center line of Fisher Street in an westerly direction to Elm Street; thence following the center line of Elm Street northerly to the intersection with Silver Street; thence following the center line of Silver Street easterly to the intersection of Central Avenue; thence following the center line of Central Avenue in a northeasterly direction to Court Street; thence following the center line of Court Street southeasterly to Tennyson Avenue; thence following the center line of Tennyson Avenue in a northeasterly direction to Henry Law Avenue; thence following a block line established by the 2000 census in a northeasterly direction to the Cochecho River; thence following the Cochecho River southeasterly to its confluence with the Piscataqua River and the exterior block line established by the 2000 census located in the center of said Piscataqua River; thence following the exterior block line established by the 2000 census located in the center of the Little Bay channel where it intersects the Spaulding Turnpike at the Little Bay Bridge; thence following the exterior block line established by the 2000 census located in the center of Little Bay in a northwesterly direction to a point of intersection at the common boundary corner between Dover and Madbury near the Scammel Bridge; thence following the center line of the Bellamy River in a northwesterly direction to Spur Road Extension; thence following the center line of the Spur Road Extension southerly to the intersection Spur Road; thence following the center line of Spur Road northwesterly to the Spaulding Turnpike; thence following the center line of the Spaulding Turnpike in a northwesterly direction to the point of beginning.

Ward Four begins at the intersection of the Bellamy River and Central Avenue; thence following the center line of Central Avenue northeasterly to the intersection with the Spaulding Turnpike; thence following the center line of the Spaulding Turnpike in a southeasterly direction to Spur Road; thence following the center line of Spur Road southwesterly to Spur Road Extension; thence following the center line of Spur Road Extension in a northwesterly direction to a block line established by the 2000 Census and following said block line in a southwesterly direction to the Bellamy River; thence following the center line of the Bellamy River in a southwesterly direction to a point of intersection at the common boundary corner between Dover and Madbury near the Scammel Bridge; thence following the common boundary line between Dover and Madbury in a northwesterly direction to the center line of the Bellamy River; thence following the center line of the Bellamy River easterly to the point of beginning.

Ward Five begins at the Rochester/Dover line at the Cochecho River; thence following the Cochecho River southeasterly to the abandoned Railroad Bridge over the Cochecho River; thence following the abandoned railroad line southerly to Washington Street; thence following the center line of Washington Street westerly to the intersection with the Boston and Maine Railroad; thence following the center line of intersection with the Boston and Maine Railroad southerly to the Spaulding Turnpike; thence following the Spaulding Turnpike in a southerly direction to Central Avenue; thence following the center line of Central Avenue southerly to the Bellamy River Bridge; then following along the center line of the Bellamy River in a westerly direction to the Madbury/Dover/Barrington boundary; thence following the Madbury/Dover/Barrington boundary in a northwesterly direction to the point of beginning.

Ward Six begins at the point where the Dover-Somersworth-Rochester boundaries intersect with a block line established by the 2010 Census; thence proceeds westerly along the block line to the intersection with Glenwood Avenue; thence following the center line of Glenwood Avenue westerly to the Spaulding Turnpike; thence following the center line of the Spaulding Turnpike in a southerly direction to the Cochecho River; thence following the Cochecho River in a northerly direction to the Dover/Rochester boundary line; thence following the boundary line in a northeasterly direction to the point of beginning.”

c. Amend § C4-4 to read as follows: “In order to be qualified to be a candidate for election as School Board Member, a person must be a duly qualified voter in the city and a resident of the city. In order to be a candidate for election as a School Board member from a Ward, in addition to the aforementioned qualifications, a person must be a resident of the ward from which he or she is seeking election. In the event that the ward boundaries are redistricted or amended at any time during their term of office or in conjunction with the Municipal Election said Ward candidate is elected which may result in removing them from said ward, the candidate shall be allowed to serve out their term as the representative of the Ward to which they are elected for one term.”

d. Amend § C3-4 to read: Include “or amended at any time during their term of office or” after the word “redistricted” as part of the proposed new final sentence of § C3-4 within the newly added language proposed with Question 2, such that the full new sentence at the end of this provision would read: “In the event that the ward boundaries are redistricted or amended at any time during their term of office or in conjunction with the Municipal Election which may result in removing them from said ward, the elected candidates shall be allowed to serve out their term as the representative of the Ward to which they are elected.”

e. Amend § C2-2 to read as follows: “At each municipal election, the inhabitants of each ward shall choose three Selectpersons, a Clerk, a Moderator and a Supervisor of the Checklist, who, being duly sworn, shall perform and discharge respectfully the duties, in accordance with the provisions of State RSA and specified in Chapter 17, Article I, Election Procedures, of the Municipal Code, of said officers for said wards and shall hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified. In case of any vacancy in said offices, in any ward, the City Council shall fill such vacancy at its first regular meeting after such vacancy shall occur. Appointees shall be from the same ward in which the vacancy exists and shall hold office for the unexpired term. The term of office shall be for a two year term. In the event that the ward boundaries are redistricted or amended at any time during the term of office of said officers for said wards or in conjunction with the Municipal Election which may result in removing them from said ward, the elected officers for said wards shall be allowed to serve out their term as an officer of the Ward to which they are elected.”

Background/Purpose: Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic, the current census results have been delayed significantly. The City is expected to receive those results in September 2021, which is almost six months later than normal, and which would leave insufficient amount of time to review and if necessary redistrict wards in time for a charter amendment process, which requires approval by voters on November 2, 2021. Accordingly, this amendment is intended to assign ward review and redistricting to the City Council, in order to expedite that process in time for the 2022 elections. The amendment also includes related textual changes clarifying that the redistricting or amendment process shall not affect already-elected representatives or officers.

YES

QUESTION 2

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

a. Amend § C3-5 to read: “A vacancy shall exist when any member dies, resigns, is removed for just cause, is permanently physically or mentally incapacitated to the degree they are unable to perform their duties, are judicially declared to be mentally incompetent or, in those instances where residence in the city or in one of its several wards is initially required, they move from the city or ward and establish their residence in some other place. Vacancies occurring in the office of Councilor at any time shall be filled at a special election to be called by the City Council. Said election shall be held no later than 60 days following the creation of the vacancy (with a filing period to be established by the City Clerk) except, however, in cases where such vacancies shall occur less than one year prior to the expiration of the term of office. In such case, the vacancy shall be filled by the election of a qualified person, as set forth in § C3-4 above, by a majority vote of the Council at the second regular meeting of the Council following the creation of the Vacancies in the office of the Ward Councilor shall be filled from the same ward as the prior incumbent. The Council shall declare the existence of vacancies among its membership or any other elective municipal office under this section or § C11-3 of this Charter, except as otherwise provided in this Charter.”

b. Amend § C4-5 to read: “A vacancy shall exist when any member dies, resigns, is removed for just cause, is permanently physically or mentally incapacitated to the degree they are unable to perform their duties, are judicially declared to be mentally incompetent or, in those instances where residence in the city or in one of its several wards is initially required, they move from the city or ward and establish their residence in some other If a vacancy occurs on the School Board, the vacancy shall be filled by the School Board pursuant to RSA 671:33.”

c. Delete § C11-3 in its entirety: Vacancies.

“In addition to other provisions of this Charter, a vacancy shall be deemed to exist in any department, office or board whenever an officer, member or employee dies, resigns, is removed for just cause, is permanently physically or mentally incapacitated to the degree they are unable to perform their duties, are judicially declared to be mentally incompetent or, in those instances where residence in the city or in one of its several wards is initially required, he/she moves from the city or ward and establishes his/her residence in some other place. Unless otherwise provided in this Charter, vacancies occurring under this section shall be declared to exist by the Manager in the case of department heads and by the department head in the case of departmental personnel.”

Background/Purpose: This amendment is intended to update, clarify, and slightly modify the process for filling vacancies on the City Council and School. The changes to § C3-5 and § C4-5 make section § C3-11 superfluous.

YES

Alternate iframe textQUESTION 3

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

a. Amend § C4-2 to read: “There shall be a School Board consisting of seven members, Oone member from each ward and one member elected at large. The term of office shall begin upon the member’s election and making and subscription to the oath of office qualification and end upon the election and qualification of the member’s successor and the successor’s making and subscription of oath of office. All School Board members shall be elected for terms of two years and shall take office on the first Monday in January following the In the event that the first Monday of January is a holiday, the organization meeting shall take place on the Tuesday immediately following the first Monday of January.”

b. Amend § C4-4 to read: “In order tTo be qualified to be a candidate for election as School Board Member, a person must be a duly qualified voter in the city and a resident of the city for at least one year immediately preceding the election. In order tTo be a candidate for election as a School Board member from a Ward, in addition to the aforementioned qualifications, a person must be a resident of the ward from which they are elected he or she is seeking election. In the event that the ward boundaries are redistricted in conjunction with the Municipal Election said Ward candidate is elected which may result in removing them from said ward, the elected candidates shall be allowed to serve out their term as the representative of the Ward to which they are elected for one term.”

c. Amend § C3-1 to read: “Except as otherwise provided in the Charter, all of the powers of the city shall be vested in a Council of nine Councilors, one Councilor from each ward, two Councilors at Large, and one Councilor to serve as Mayor, to be elected as provided in § C2-1 and § C3-3. All Councilors shall be elected for terms of two years and shall take office on the first Monday in January following the election and shall hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified have made and subscribed to the oath of office.”

d. Amend § C3-4 to read: “In order tTo be qualified to be a candidate for election as Councilor at Large, a person must be a duly qualified voter in the city and must have been a resident of the city for at least one year immediately preceding the election. In order tTo be a candidate for election as a Ward Councilor, in addition to the aforementioned qualifications, a person must be a resident of the ward from which he or she is seeking election. A Councilor shall not be eligible to hold any other municipal office except Mayor or Deputy Mayor. In the event that the ward boundaries are redistricted in conjunction with the Municipal Election which may result in removing them from said ward, the elected candidates shall be allowed to serve out their term as the representative of the Ward to which they are ”

Background/Purpose: This proposed amendment aims to clarify both residency requirements and the beginning and end dates for terms of office for elected officials. This subject impacts and requires changes to several sections of the City’s charter for consistency.

YES

Alternate iframe textQUESTION 4

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend § C6-5 to read: “The budget shall be adopted not later than April June fifteenth of the fiscal year and not earlier than seven days after the public hearing on the budget unless another date shall be fixed by ordinance.”

Background/Purpose: This amendment is intended to update the due date for initial budget adoption to better align with practices and timing with respect to annual budgeting. The City’s final budget is typically adopted in May or June. The City’s fiscal year begins July 1.

YES

Alternate iframe textQUESTION 5

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend § C7-6 to read: “There is hereby established a Personnel Advisory Board of three (3) citizens holding no other political office, who shall be appointed as follows: One (1) member by the Manager, one (1) by the council and the third by these two (2) appointees. The terms of all members shall be for three (3) years. It shall be the duty of the Personnel Advisory Board to study the broad problems of personnel policy and administration, to advise the Council concerning the personnel policies of the city and to advise the Manager regarding administration of the Merit Plan and to hear appeals from any employee aggrieved as to the status or condition of their employment or retirement. The Board shall promptly issue written reports containing findings of facts and recommendations to the Manager upon such appeals, but the board shall have no power to reinstate an employee unless it finds, after investigation, that disciplinary action was taken against the employee without just cause. The term "employee" as used in this section shall not include department heads and officers of the city (conduct of elected officials and appointed members of boards and commissions shall be addressed by the Ethics Commission as set forth in § C11-4). Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting an appeal by an aggrieved employee to the court.”

Background/Purpose: This amendment is intended to clarify that the City’s Personnel Advisory Board is intended to address solely employee issues or concerns, and not conduct of elected or appointed officials within the City.

YES

Alternate iframe textQUESTION 6

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

a. Amend § C10-2 to read: “Conflicts of Interest and Disqualification from Decision-Making [Amended 9-5-1990, approved 11-6-1990 by election; 2-12-2003, approved 11- 4-2003 by election] No elective or appointive officer or employee of this city shall knowingly take part in a decision concerning the business of this city in which he/she they or a member of their immediate family directly or indirectly has a financial interest, aside from his/her their salary as such officer or employee, greater than any other citizen or taxpayer. Any elective or appointive officer or employee of the city who has such financial interest in any such decision shall make full, public disclosure of such interest prior to the city's deliberating on such decision.”

b. Delete § C10-3 in its entirety: “Disqualification from Decision-Making Process. No elective or appointive officer or employee of this city shall take part in a decision concerning the business of this city in which they or a member of their family, directly or indirectly, has a financial interest, aside from his/her salary as such officer or employee, greater than any other citizen or taxpayer.”

Background/Purpose: This amendment aims to clarify the circumstances under which a conflict of interest exists, as well as the action to be taken when such a conflict exists. The changes to C10 make C10-3 superfluous.

YES

Alternate iframe textQUESTION 7

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend § C11-2 to read: “Written notice of the election or appointment to any city office or board shall be mailed (hard copy or electronic) to the individual involved at their last known physical or electronic address, by the City Clerk, within forty-eight (48) hours after the appointment is made or the results of any vote are certified by the Board of Supervisors of Elections to the City Council. Said notice shall state that within ten (10) days, the individual involved shall file with the City Clerk an acceptance of his/her election or appointment and failure to do so shall be deemed a refusal to serve, and the position shall thereupon be vacant.”

Background/Purpose: This amendment is intended to modernize the options for giving notice by recognizing the validity of electronic notification methods.

YES

Alternate iframe textQUESTION 8

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend § C11-4 to read: “The City Council shall establish by ordinance a five member Ethics Commission.[1] The Commission will investigate complaints filed against members of the City Council, School Board, and members of standing city boards and commissions. If the Commission believes a complaint warrants further action or censure it will forward its recommendation to the City Council for adjudication or the school board for complaints made against school board members. The Commission may also provide advice to the Council, City Manager, and Superintendent on matters of ethics and shall coordinate where appropriate with the Personnel Advisory Board described in § C7-6. At least one member of the Commission shall be a former Councilor or School Board member.”

Background/Purpose: This amendment clarifies and confirms that the City’s Ethics Commission may conduct educational or advisory activities in an attempt to be proactive and promote ethical conduct.

YES

Alternate iframe textQUESTION 9

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend § C11-13 to read: “All willful violations of provisions of this Charter, unless otherwise provided, are hereby declared to be violations, and all such violations and all violations of city ordinances for which no other punishment is provided shall be punishable by a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) in the discretion of the court $500, or imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both.”

Background/Purpose: This proposed amendment is intended to clarify C11-13 and bring the Charter’s default fine provision into alignment with the text of RSA 49-C:31.

YES

Alternate iframe textQUESTION 10

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend the City’s Charter such that all instances of numbers less than ten shall solely be spelled out, numbers greater than or equal to ten shall solely be represented numerically. This amendment would include the following affected sections of the Charter:

1. Amend § C2-12 as follows: “preserve by the City Clerk for thirty 30 days”
2. Amend § C3-6 as follows: “the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000)”
3. Amend § C5-3 as follows: “at least six (6) days”
4. Amend § C5-3 as follows: “at least thirty (30) days”
5. Amend § C5-3 as follows: “within ten (10) days”
6. Amend § C5-4 as follows: “at least six (6) days”
7. Amend § C5-6 as follows: “at least thirty (30) days”
8. Amend § C5-6 as follows: “within ten (10) days”
9. Amend § C6-3.1A as follows: “the average of the thirty-six (36) month changes”
10. Amend § C6-3.1D as follows: “by a two-thirds (2/3) majority”
11. Amend § C7-2 as follows: “within sixty 60 days”
12. Amend § C7-6 as follows: “three (3) citizens holding no other political office, who shall be appointed as follows: One (1) member by the Manager, one (1) by the council and the third by these two (2) The terms of all members shall be for three (3) years.”
13. Amend § C10-10 as follows: “within one (1) year after”.
14. Amend § C11-2 as follows: “within forty-eight (48) hours”
15. Amend § C11-2 as follows: “within ten (10) days”.
16. Amend § C11-11 A as follows: “once every ten (10) years”.

Background/Purpose: This amendment aims to correct lingering editorial inconsistencies in the Charter. The City has engaged a professional code service (General Code), who conducted an editorial review of the City’s charter and suggested these changes for purposes of clarity and uniformity.

YES

QUESTION 11

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend the City’s Charter to remove superfluous commas, add commas and related words, correct apostrophe use, and correct structure of serial lists throughout the Charter as follows:

1. Amend § C3-9A as follows: "To the extent that there are no available unappropriated revenues to meet such appropriations, the Council may by such emergency ordinance, authorize the issuance of emergency notes…"
2. Amend § C5-7 as follows: "There shall be appointed by the Manager, such officers as are necessary to administer all departments which the Council shall establish…"
3. Amend § C6-15 as follows: "The City of Dover may at any time have and incur debt for all purposes, subject in all respects, to the limits set forth in the Municipal Finance Act, RSA 33 subsequent amendments "
4. Amend § C8-4 as follows: "The City of Dover may furnish to the Town of Rollinsford such assistance for the protection against and the extinguishment of fires by the extension of its hydrant system and through the services of its Fire Department and fire-fighting apparatus, as may be agreed upon by said city and "
5. Amend § C3-2 to include a comma, and the word “and” before “adopting rules” as follows: "The Councilors so chosen shall meet in their capacity as the City Council on the first Monday of January next following their election for the purpose of taking their respective oaths of office, and adopting rules for the transaction of business required by law or ordinance to be transacted at such "
6. Amend § C3-3 as follows: “it is the voters’ intent”.
7. Amend § C3-10 by adding “, and” to the third sentence to read as follows: "Each bound volume shall be duly authenticated by affixing the signatures of all members of the City Council, and the City Clerk and the City ”
8. Amend § C6-17 by adding the word “and” to the second sentence, to read as follows: "Such resolution shall state the estimated cost of the improvement, what proportion of the cost thereof shall be paid by special assessments and what part, if any, shall be a general obligation of the city, and the number of installments in which special assessments may be paid and shall designate the districts or land and premises upon which a special assessment shall be levied."
9. Amend the first sentence of § C11-10 to include a “, and” so that it reads as follows: "Upon adoption, the Official Charter, duly authenticated by affixing the signatures of all members of the City Council, and the City Clerk and the City Seal, shall be filed with the City Clerk and remain in the Clerk's office as the Official Charter of the City of "

YES

QUESTION 12

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend the City’s Charter to use gender neutral language as follows:

1. Amend § C5-6 as follows: "but his the officer’s or department head’s pay shall continue"
2. Amend § C5-8 as follows: "or his removal"
3. Amend § C7-6 as follows: "condition of his the employee’s employment or retirement"
4. Amend § C10-10 as follows: "with which he or his the officer’s or employee’s department”;
5. Amend § C10-10 as follows: "by his the officer’s or employee’s official action"
6. Amend § C11-1 as follows: "duties of his their office".

Background/Purpose: This amendment aims to correct and remove gendered terms that remain in the Charter. In the past, the City has amended the Charter in an attempt to eliminate all gendered references. The City’s professional code service (General Code) conducted an editorial review of the City’s charter and found lingering gendered references, which this amendment aims to remove and update.

YES

QUESTION 13

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend the fifth sentence in § C2-11C as follows: “Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of the New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission, Adjudication Proceedings 206.01 through 206.14 206.13 and RSA 665:11 (eff. 01/01/2004).”

Background/Purpose: This amendment aims to correct an incorrect reference to other law. The City has engaged a professional code service (General Code), who conducted an editorial review of the City’s charter and suggested this technical change for accuracy.

YES

QUESTION 14

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend the first sentence of § C3-8B as follows: "any regular or special meeting of the Council."

Background/Purpose: This amendment aims to correct an editorial error in the City’s Charter, as recommended by the City’s professional code service (General Code).

YES

QUESTION 15

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend both §§ C3-8D and C3-9B by amending the same language appearing in both § C3-8D and § C3-9B as follows: “All ordinances, including any amendments thereto, shall be recorded in full, uniformly and permanently, by the City Clerk, and each ordinance so recorded shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney, authenticated by affixing the signatures of the Mayor, City Clerk, and City Attorney and City Seal and kept on file in the office of the City Clerk."

Background/Purpose: This amendment aims to correct the same editorial error appearing in two sections of the City’s Charter, as recommended by the City’s professional code service (General Code).

YES

QUESTION 16

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend the City’s Charter to correct three instances of misspelled words or incomplete phrases as follows:

1. Amend the second sentence of § C3-10’s incorrect reference to “City of over” to instead read as follows: “City of Dover”;
2. Amend § C4-2 to remove duplicate word “elected” in the second sentence as follows: “one member elected elected at large”;
3. Amend § C5-3’s use of the word “therefore” in the second sentence to “therefor” instead;
4. Amend § C5-5’s use of the word “charted” in the second sentence to “charged”.
5. Amend § C5-9 as follows: “Personnel Advisory Board”.

Background/Purpose: This amendment aims to correct editorial and spelling errors in the City’s Charter, as recommended by the City’s professional code service (General Code).

YES

QUESTION 17

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend the first sentence of § C7-5 as follows: “The City shall provide such insurance as authorized by RSA 412:3 RSA 31:107”

QUESTION 18

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend § C8-1 and § C8-2 as follows:

1. Amend § C8-1 as follows: “The City of Dover may erect, construct and maintain such dams, reservoirs and buildings as may be necessary for such waterworks and dig ditches, break up ground and place and maintain pipes for conducting water wherever it may be necessary, including the highways and streets, and relay and change said pipes from time to time, due regard being paid to the safety of the citizens and the security of public travel., and, for the more convenient management of said work, may place the same, either before or after they are constructed, under the direction of a superintendent or a board of water commissioners, or both, and the duties of such officer or officers shall be defined by vote of the City Council.”
2. Amend § C8-2 as follows: “The City of Dover is authorized to contract with individuals and corporations for supplying said corporations and individuals with water and to make such contracts, establish such tolls and charge such rate for use of water as shall be deemed reasonable and, for the more convenient management of said work, may place the same, either before or after they are constructed, under the direction of a superintendent or a board of water commissioners, or both, and the duties of such officer or officers shall be defined by vote of the City Council.”

Background/Purpose: This amendment aims to improve clarity in the Charter by relocating the indicated language to a more germane section of the Charter. The City has engaged a professional code service (General Code), who conducted an editorial review of the City’s charter and suggested these changes for purposes of clarity.

YES

QUESTION 19

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend § C8-3 as follows: “The City of Dover is authorized to levy taxes to and defray the expenses of said waterworks . . . .”

Background/Purpose: This amendment aims to correct the term used in the City’s Charter, as recommended by the City’s professional code service (General Code).

YES

QUESTION 20

QUESTION: SHALL DOVER APPROVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT REPRINTED BELOW:

Amend § C10-9 as follows: “Any elective or appointive officer or employee of the city found to have violated any of the provisions of this article section . . . .”

Background/Purpose: This amendment aims to correct the misuse of the term “section” used in the City’s Charter, as recommended by the City’s professional code service (General Code).

YES